Keen gardener Winifred Spencer celebrated her 100th birthday with a party at the Borrins Bupa care home in Baildon yesterday.

Staff at the home said she was “overwhelmed” by the occasion, during which she was inundated with cards from well-wishers.

Winifred was born in Ilkley and attended Skipton Girls’ High School before moving to Spain for two years when she was 16.

She returned to Baildon to work in office administration, living in the town for most of her life.

Lynn Rhodes, a care assistant at the Borrins, said Winifred had a real love of gardening and put the secret of her long life down to the “importance of hard work.”

“She is still very independent, and a really lovely lady,” she said. “She has really enjoyed the day.”